Yokohama 1890s • Nectarine No. 9 Brothel

Gorgeously dressed prostitutes are standing in the windows of the Nectarine brothel in Yokohama, a world-famous house of prostitution also known as No.9 or Jimpuro (occasionally romanized as Jinpuro or Shinpuro). Until the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, Jimpuro was one of the top brothels of the city. It was originally opened in 1872 (Meiji 5) in Yokohama’s Takashima-cho. In 1882 (Meiji 15), Jimpuro moved to the less visible area of Eiraku-cho. A branch specifically for foreigners was opened at the red-light district of Kanagawa’s Nanaken-machi. The brothel was called No. 9, because this was Jimpuro’s original address in Takashima-cho. (Source: Old Photos of Japan)